March 14, 2002 | Read Time: 2 minutes
TOOLS AND TRAINING
By Heather Joslyn
The following resources can help identify and lead to treatment for compassion fatigue:
The Compassion Fatigue Self-Test, designed by Charles R. Figley, founder of
the International Traumatology Institute, measures levels of compassion fatigue, burnout, and satisfaction and can give those who take the test an indication of whether they should consider changing jobs as a means to alleviate their stress.
Books: Compassion Fatigue: Coping With Secondary Traumatic Stress Disorder in Those Who Treat the Traumatized, edited by Mr. Figley (Brunner/Mazel, 1995, $48.95), focuses on the immediate and long-term effects for people who take care of others. Secondary Traumatic Stress: Self-Care Issues for Clinicians, Researchers, and Educatiors, edited by Beth Hudnall Stamm (Sidran Press, 1999, $22.50), focuses on prevention and treatment of compassion fatigue.
Training and workshops: The International Traumatology Institute, at the University of South Florida in Tampa, offers a 17-hour course for certification as a compassion-fatigue specialist. The two-day course costs $329, and participants can register or seek information through the institute’s Web site, by e-mailing institute co-director J. Eric Gentry at egentry@admin.usf.edu, or by calling (813) 974-1191. The institute’s Canadian office also offers compassion-fatigue specialist training through the Toronto company Psych Ink Resources. For information, go to its Web site , or call the executive director of the Canadian branch of the institute, Anne B. Baranowsky, at (416) 229-1477, extension 235, or e-mail abb@sympatico.ca. The Tramatology Institute also provides experts to conduct workshops in compassion fatigue for nonprofit groups.
Video: Gift from Within, a nonprofit group for those who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, offers “When Helping Hurts: Sustaining Trauma Workers,” a videotape that defines compassion fatigue as it applies to workers who are exposed to trauma, identifies the symptoms, and explores prevention and treatment.
The 50-minute version is $95, while a 15-minute version sells for $25. It can be purchased through the Gift from Within Web site.
Workshops for animal shelters: Clinical psychologist Carol A. Brothers and counselor Connie Toverud offer workshops in compassion fatigue for animal shelters and other animal-related charities. For more information, contact Ms. Brothers by e-mail at carol_ab@juno.com or (410) 956-9560.
Practical tips: The Association for Trauma Stress Specialists offers specific advice through its Web site for helping professionals who seek to take better care of themselves to prevent compassion fatigue.
